Direct Swap - Cathrine from Norway

At the beginning of March, Cathrine posted some Easter cards she had to swap. Norway was a country I had yet to receive a card from and I was happy to have the chance to swap. Cathrine chose this card and I chose the one shown below. Funny I couldn't even imagine a store here selling an Easter postcard, folded greeting cards, yes, but postcards never. Seems it is all touristy, all the time! The card translates to say "Happy Easter". I am really happy with it and hope my card makes it to Cathrine soon.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter - hope the bunny finds you with a basket full of chocolate!

OFFICIAL Card - Poland

Karolina lives outside of Warsaw and wrote telling me all about the vegetables she has started from seed. She can't wait for Spring and to get planting in her garden. While I only plant flowers and not even very well, I too can't wait for Spring - it has been a long winter! The card she sent has a picture of a stork. The text on the back unfortunately I cannot translate for whatever reason so who knows what else it might say. And the stamps - fabulous!

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Much has been written on the Postcrossing Forum about Touchnote cards. For the most part, when you do read about it people do not seem to like them, while there are few others who do. I think the biggest complaint is that people are having their address given out to a third party without their consent. Me, I don't sweat it too much as I don't even use my last name on Postcrossing so I feel like a needle in a haystack! This card is my first "Touchnote" card and to be honest I can't find any reason not to like it. Julia lives near the village of Kiel, in northern Germany. The view is of Humboldt Schule a high school in Kiel. When she wrote me it was snowing and she was watching the snowflakes. The card is a thick quality paper. The picture is "personal" meaning she chose it and it does match a wish list for me. The text is personal, yes, it is typed but I've received several typed postcards over the years (broken arm, arthritis, impersonal sticker). Lastly, it had no stamps just a metre from Guernsey. I too have had metered postage before and while not my fave let's face it do I really need another stamp like this to make it "better" - no. So, thank you Julia for showing me what all the fuss is about Touchnote. I think like everything else it all depends on the sender.

Direct Swap - Shelley from Canada

I recently sent a card and Shelley commented that she liked it and had never seen it. As she lives n Toronto, I let her know where I picked it up. We got chatting back and forth and I too wanted to know where she got a particular card. Turns out, a Postcrosser gifted them to her and she offered to send me one, so we exchanged. I sent her one like this and in return she sent me this fun card showing the Toronto Subway system. For most of my life I lived within walking distance to Davisville Station. Shelley had swapped this card with another Postcrosser. While I can't say for sure, I do think they made this card themselves as there is no publisher, etc on the back. Too bad in a way, these would be great cards to send out to people.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Brad is from Pennsylvania and sent me this fun map/collage of the US State flags. From reading his profile I think he might also dabble in designing his own cards. Neat stuff!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Anastasiya is a bookkeeper from Moscow. This card has long been in my favourites and I was happy to receive it. There is something about the Cyrillic alphabet that fascinates me. I think it is because so many of the letters are similar to what I know and others so different. Whereas a character based alphabet like Chinese is just completely different. She too wrote me on her favourite day of the week - Saturday! Funny my favourite day to Postcross is a Monday. What is yours?

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Today's card was sent to me by Netty a kindergarten teacher from the Netherlands. The view shows the Royal Palace of Amsterdam as well as Dam Square. I am certainly getting up to speed on my Dutch Royalty lately! I also love the stamps Netty chose for me.The Christmas stamp is a new one for me.

 

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Wouldn't it be nice to be a bird? They look so graceful and beautiful, especially in a picture like this of two swans sent by Sanna. Love it! She wrote telling me she likes summer the best and winter the least. I almost agree with that.

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Juliette lives in Ukraine and picked this card up at a jazz festival she went to. She wrote that there were really cool bands and at least one from Canada every year. The card, from the band Plaistow, is not done any justice by my less than great scanner. The feather are amazing! Something truly different for me.

 

Direct Swap - USA from CaptainSoul

Ron often posts on the Postcrossing Forum offering free cards on a variety of different themes. Last month he was offering stadium cards. I couldn't believe it when this card arrived showing Riverfront Stadium (also known as Cinergy Field) in Cincinnati. Growing up the Cincinnati Reds were my favourite baseball team and I could always be found wearing my hat...that is until the Blue Jays came along. Once again, Ron used some great State Flag stamps and even themed it perfectly using an Ohio one. In return, I sent Ron a view of Toronto's Skydome (Rogers Centre).

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Maureen lives in Rotterdam and she sent this vintage multi-view of her hometown. I wonder how much has changed over the years. Sometimes I look at the cards of Toronto pre-condo boom and can't believe how different the downtown and lake shore look. Always fun to see the before and after. She shared a quote with me that interestingly my 8 year old has been using lately - "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present" So true!

OFFICIAL Card - China

You know what can be really exciting? Getting a postcard in the mail from a place you have actually been to. Even more so when it is kind of off the beaten path. Timmy lives in Beijing and sent me this card of The Tomb of Confucius, which is a UNESCO site. I instantly recognized it without even having to look at the back of the card. I remember Qufu as being one of the dustiest places I have ever been. I know it is hard to describe but everything just kind of has a haze to it. Funny thing too about this card, I had a water colour painting custom made of three goldfish by a fellow who stated he was a direct descendant of Confucius done right at the actual tomb site. I had just shown the painting to my kids the night before this arrived. Sadly, I have never found an ideal spot to hang it up in this house.

Direct Swap - Vatican City from Rita

At the beginning of March I responded to a post Rita made in the Forum. She was offering cards sent from Vatican City with a very unique and special "sede vacante" stamp. That was a new phrase for me so naturally I was very intrigued with her offer. I was pleased when she agreed to swap and in return I sent her a card showing Rideau Canal in Ottawa as she collects UNESCO sites. Here is a bit more information on the history of the issue that I was able to find.

Rita's card arrived today and it is a great addition and truly rare piece to add to my collection. The four views show, clockwise from upper left - an aerial of Saint Angelo Castle, the Tiber river and Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI, Pieta by Michelangelo and an interior view of St. Peter's Basilica. Thank you so much Rita!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Yulia is an architect who lives in Moscow. She wrote me on her favourite day - Friday of course! The card she sent me shows National Russian folk costumes which were used in performances of fairy tales. Looking at this picture it reminds me of one of those "fill in the caption" games....so many different possible conversations pop into my head!

Direct Swap - Aliessia from China

Sometimes if I have too many swaps on the go I just have to say no. I do feel bad if someone has requested a specific card as I know what it can be like to try and build a collection (hello last state map of Connecticut anyone!). Aliessia contacted me late last year and while I did have to say no I suggested she contact me in the new year. I am glad she did as when I went through her trade albums she had several great cards from the Beijing Olympics. I finally chose this one as it showed all of the mascots together. The card she wanted to swap for - a pretty snowy scene as her name translates to snow. Prefect swap! I had to include the whole back of the card as the one floral stamp Aliessia is one of the prettiest I have ever seen.

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Judith from the Netherlands sent me this card showing Princess Maxima. She will soon be Queen consort with the abdication of Queen Beatrix at the end of April. Judith wrote the the people in Holland love her. I know the British Royal Family is often in the news here, but you rarely hear anything about the Dutch Royal Family. I wonder why - is it because of Canada's ties to England or is it the Dutch just keep a lower profile? I also found it neat that this card was produced by Hallmark

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Kate lives in Magnitogorsk, Russia which is near the Kazakhstan border. She sent the card showing the subway map of St. Petersburg. Funny thing, I can vividly remember riding the subway in Moscow but have no recollection of doing the same in St Petersburg. Any pictures I have we were on the bus/trolley....maybe I didn't. I find these types of maps so interesting when compared to the subway system I know best - the TTC. Such limited routes no wonder people get frustrated with it.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Alisa lives in Altena, Germany and sent this multi-view of her hometown in February. She wrote telling me it was "groovy weather" as it was 13C the day she wrote and that the Altena Castle shown in the main view houses the world's oldest youth hostel. She writes saying you can sleep there and get married in the little chapel in the castle. That sounds like it could be an interesting vacation!

Thank You Card - Eliette from France

At the beginning of February I drew Eliette's name to send an official card to. I had just received an on-line order I had made and sent her this card, as she had asked for "funny/crazy" and I figured what was wackier that a cat doing yoga! She must have really like it as she sent me this lovely card of her hometown Nice, France. So very thoughtful of her - thank you for the thank you!

OFFICIAL Card - China

Another wonderful Year of The Snake card came to me in Feburary, this time Shoawei a film director from Beijing.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

I had a good chuckle to myself when I received this card a few weeks ago. I chat back and forth with another Postcrosser I met last summer. Just the day before she had emailed me as she received this card. In her acknowledgement to the sender she was joking about the Bielefeld Conspiracy. She was sharing that conversation with me and asked if I had ever heard of it. Funnier still, was at that point I had never heard of it but I too received the exact same card from the same sender. The very next day, this lovely card from Helga came to my mailbox. And yes, she does live there! The view shows Sparrenberg Castle and Helga wrote about the medieval festival that is held there each year.

Direct Swap - SL from Malaysia

I responded to a few posts in the forum looking for The Year of the Snake cards and/or stamps. SL and I had swapped once before and I thought I would help him so to speak by being his Canadian swap partner. He had told me that Malaysia didn't have specific cards only stamps to commemorate and I was OK with that. Super surprised when I received this card in the mail a few weeks ago. The view shows the Penang Snake Temple. SL tells me that he lives very close to this site and that the vipers are usually "sleepy". I so remember this place when it was featured on "The Amazing Race" a few years ago. Thanks SL until next year and The Year of the Horse. Also check out the postmark - fabulous!

OFFICIAL Card - France

Agnes sent this card to me a few weeks ago. It shows the L'Ain region of France and several little scenes of the area. Agnes has lived in there for 13 years. She says the area is famous for Chicken of Bresse, (which I'll be honest I have never heard of but after reading that article I know why) and also frogs legs, which I had many moons ago, once, enough said. Agnes also chose a great stamp for her card.

OFFICIAL Card - England

This is one of the sweetest cards! I love the "home-spun" look about it. Lorna lives in Devon, England and sent me this card. She told me a bit about her life and what she enjoys doing. She also has some of the neatest handwriting I have ever seen! So envious, I have decent handwriting some days and then bordering on a ransom note on others all depends on how much time I have. Great card and another new 77p stamp for me.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Les lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee and sent this nice aerial view of that city to me. I love cities that have a body of water running through or near it. For most of my adult life I was always less than a kilometre to Lake Ontario and that is the one thing I miss about living in Toronto is being that close to the water. He wrote me about some of his favourite things and some of the most beautiful words about his love for his daughter. So sweet! This is the second butterfly stamp that I have received in the last week or so. I really like it and hope to see more of this series.